25+ Backyard BBQ Marinade Recipes
On March 17, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This Hey Grill Hey guide is loaded with dozens of ideas for simple marinade recipes. Tenderize and texturize all your favorite BBQ proteins, while at the same time infusing them with depths of customizable flavor.
Easy Marinade Recipes for Backyard Grilling
Marinades make a great addition to any protein you love grilling. Whether you’re grilling an economy cut to feed a big crowd, or that fancy hunk of meat you splurged on, you can’t go wrong with a marinade. I’ve been feeding my family for years, and along the way I’ve created dozens of marinade recipes that’ll rock your tastebuds without breaking the bank.
What you’ll find in this guide is more than 2 dozen simple marinade recipes for all kinds of proteins and flavor profiles. Like all Hey Grill Hey recipes, most of the ingredients are common items you’ve likely got in your pantry or fridge already. If you’re ready to discover your new favorite marinade, check out these awesome recipes.
Steak Marinade Recipes
Marinating is great way to enhance the flavor of your steak, while also tenderizing tough cuts. We love steak at our house, but it can get pricey quick. Marinating helps tenderize economy cuts for feeding a hungry crowd, or if you want to amp up that steakhouse cut you bought. No matter how you’re planning on enjoying steak, I’ve got a recipe to help you make it memorable.
Simple Steak Marinade
First up, I’ve got a steak marinade perfect for any cut you plan to grill or smoke. Infuse your steak with classic flavors that beautifully complement the rich beef. If you’re looking for a nice, well-rounded marinade for all your favorite steaks, this is a true winner. Check it out, plus some recipes that use it:
Tri Tip Steak with Red Wine Marinade
This recipe for tri tip grilled like steak has a marinade similar to my simple steak marinade, but highlights the vinegar with a splash or red wine. Plus, a touch of my Signature Beef Rub.
Korean BBQ Short Ribs with Kalbi Marinade
These BBQ short ribs include a recipe for a kalbi (Korean BBQ) marinade infused with soy sauce, ginger, and Asian pear. If you love the sweet, savory, caramelized goodness that is kalbi, you have to try this marinade.
Brazilian Steak with a Garlic Herb Marinade
Before this steak gets skewered and grilled to perfection, it soaks in all the authentic Brazilian-steakhouse flavors of the marinade, including fresh cilantro, parsley, and lime juice. And just a touch of red pepper so you get that traditional heat.
Carne Asada with Simple Citrus Marinade
With a simple blend of citrus, onion, garlic, and a healthy dose of my Fiesta Rub, this marinade works great for tenderizing economy cuts. You save a little money, and your family gets to eat something delicious you made! It’s a win-win.
Marinated London Broil with Cilantro Gremolata
If you thought these other marinades brought the citrus, wait until you try this London broil. With both lemon and lime, plus a kick of hot sauce, this marinade adds bright, vibrant notes to your beef with just a touch of heat.
More Steaks with Marinade Recipes
Once you get a taste of the deep levels of flavor you can achieve with a marinade, you’ll never go back to regular steak. Luckily, I’ve got a few more awesome marinade recipes for steak up my sleeve you can try next:
Chicken Marinade Recipes
Marinating chicken not only gives you the opportunity to infuse it with unique ingredients, but it helps to ensure your chicken comes out tender and full of juicy flavor. From the simple to the sensational, you’re sure to find your next favorite chicken marinade recipe here.
The Best Grilled Chicken Marinade
If you want tender, juicy chicken that’s sweet, bright, and dripping with savory, indulgent flavor then you want this marinade. It will turn any cut of chicken you’re grilling into an all-star dish. I don’t call it the best for nothing. Check it out, plus some of my favorite recipes that use it:
Smoked Chicken Wings with Jerk Marinade
A thick, sticky marinade made with my homemade Jerk seasoning, ginger, and a fresh jalapeños, this stuff is great on all kinds of chicken. We long it on wings, drumsticks, thighs, you name it!
Grilled Chicken with a Chili Lime Marinade
Bright flavors of lime, chili powder, green chile, and fresh cilantro make the most delicious marinade for chicken. Add in a slight char from the grill, and you’ve got a flavor marriage for the books.
Tandoori-Marinated Grilled Chicken
The marinade for this tandoori-style chicken contains a rich blend including cumin, coriander, garam masala, and turmeric, to help you deliver next-level flavor to feed the people you love.
More Chicken with Marinade Recipes
After you try a few of these easy marinated chicken recipes, you’ll be hooked. Here are a few more marinade recipe ideas, so you’re ready when you decide to branch out:
Pork Marinade Recipes
One meat that really allows the ingredients you cook with it to shine is pork, which means it’s also a great meat for marinades. Pork can also be notoriously difficult to keep moist during the cooking process, so marinating solves that as well. Here are some of my favorite marinated pork recipes, so you can try them in your own backyard.
Marinated and Smoked Al Pastor
Not only does every ingredient of this chili marinade add flavor, but the salt creates a brine for your al pastor, keeping the pork moist and incredibly tender during cooking.
Pork Kabobs with Asian BBQ Marinade
Thai red chili sauce and scallions help this marinade infuse your pork kabobs with some serious Asian BBQ flavor, while at the same time keeping everything juicy.
Grilled German Pork Chops with Schwenkbraten Marinade
With a fragrant, mustard-based marinade, these German pork chops grill up beautifully, with a flavor profile you can’t get anywhere else.
Pork Belly Burnt Ends with Char Siu Marinade
Chinese 5 spice powder, hoisin sauce, and a handful of common ingredients combine for a marinade that’s not only flavorful, but also creates a sticky, caramelized exterior that will wow your guests.
Seafood Marinade Recipes
Marinating can be a great way to make the briny, “fishy” taste of seafood more appetizing for picky eaters. The right marinade can highlight the naturally sweet notes of fish and seafood while adding some one-of-a-kind flavor combinations. Check out some of our family’s favorite, kid-approved seafood marinades.
Grilled Salmon with a Cilantro Lime Marinade
Tangy lime combines with cilantro, garlic, red pepper flakes, and olive oil for a marinade that pairs perfectly with the mild flavors of fresh salmon.
Grilled Shrimp Marinade
The lemon, honey, and fresh herbs of this marinade helps you create shrimp so light and refreshing, you’ll find yourself eating these by the handful.
Teriyaki-Marinated Grilled Salmon
With soy sauce, brown sugar, and pineapple juice, the teriyaki marinade in this grilled salmon recipe is also amazing with chicken, steak, and veggies!
Vegetable Marinade Recipes
When you need a simple, marinated side to go along with your BBQ, I’ve got you covered. Whether you’re looking for a veggie medley to serve with your heavy grilled meats, or a show-stealing side, there’s a marinated option here.
Grilled Mushrooms with a Balsamic Marinade
The balsamic marinade brings out the naturally earthy notes of the mushrooms, while the butter adds to the richness. Plus, you get some slightly crispy edges that are oh-so good.
Marinated and Grilled Onions
Crispy, caramelized, and loaded with sweet onion flavor, these marinated and grilled onions are great on burgers, alongside steaks, and a whole lot more.
Grilled and Marinated Veggies
Similar to the balsamic marinade I use with my mushrooms, but with a garden-fresh combination of seasonal vegetables. If someone tells you they don’t like vegetables, grill them up some of these, then ask again.
Even More Marinade Recipes
I can’t wait to hear all about your flavorful, marinated masterpieces. You can find even more recipes Marinades/Marinated section here on the site (including all my jerky recipes). They’re also available right in the Hey Grill Hey App along with over 700 more BBQ recipes.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel so you can get a first-hand look at some of these incredible marinades in action. If you marinate something you’re particularly proud of and want to share, please do! Snap a few pics, make sure you’re following my Instagram and Facebook pages, and tag @heygrillhey. We’ll all keep inspiring each other to become Backyard BBQ Heroes, one recipe at a time.
